Did the export of Brazilian granite and marble products withstand the pandemic?
Brazil is the second largest supplier of granite products and one of the largest exporters of marble products in the world. Statistics show that the COVID-19 pandemic, unlike other supplier countries, had a positive effect on marble exports. Exports of granite products remained high, recording a small decline, in proportion.
Marble
Although Brazil’s marble exports are lower than those of other major suppliers, they have risen sharply over the past decade. The main reason is the increase in exports of finished marble products to the USA and marble blocks and slabs to China. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdowns, Brazil increased its marble exports to the United States between 2019 and 2020 by + 15.74% in value and + 23.41% in quantity while to China by + 82.36% in value and + 10.07% in quantity.
In the Table below we see the monthly changes (%) of the exports of Brazilian marble products between 2019 – 2020.
In the Table we observe the positive upward trend of exports almost throughout the year. Between 2019 – 2020 there was an increase in exports of marble products by + 13.5% in value and + 8.82% in quantity. The State with the largest exports was Espírito Santo with shares (%) on the total value and quantity reaching 95%.
Granite
Exports of granite products, in contrast to marble, have fallen sharply over the last decade. Specifically in the granite products between 2011 – 2020 a decrease was recorded in the value of exports -49% and in the quantity -28.31%. The decline is due to declining exports to China, Italy and Chinese Taipei.
In the processed granite between 2011 – 2020 a decrease in value is recorded -33.41% while in the quantity an increase of + 7.74% which leads to a decrease of the average price per ton by -38.2%. The decline is due to lower exports to the United States. and Canada.
The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected the exports of granite products but remained high. Between 2019 – 2020 there was a decrease in the value of exports -10.8% and in quantity -3.9%.
In the Table below we see the monthly changes (%) of the exports of Brazilian granite products between 2019 – 2020.
In the Table we observe the downward trend of exports in the first half and the rise in the second. The State of Espírito Santo, with shares (%) of the total reaching 85% and the State of Minas Gerais, with shares of more than 7%, recorded a decline and negatively affected the total exports.
* The statistics are derived from the analysis of the Harmonized System (HS) Codes:
251511: Marble and travertine, crude or roughly trimmed.
251512: Marble and travertine, merely cut, by sawing or otherwise, into blocks or slabs of a square or rectangular shape.
680221: Marble, travertine and alabaster articles thereof, simply cut or sawn, with a flat or even surface (excl. With a completely or partly planed, sand-dressed, coarsely or finely ground or polished surface, tiles, cubes and similar articles of subheading 6802.
680291: Marble, travertine and alabaster, in any form, polished, decorated or otherwise worked (excl. Tiles, cubes and similar articles of subheading 6802,10, imitation jewelery, clocks, lamps and lighting fittings and parts thereof, buttons, original sculptures .
251611: Granite, crude or roughly trimmed (excl. Already with the characteristics of setts, curbstones and flagstones).
251612: Granite, merely cut, by sawing or otherwise, into blocks or slabs of a square or rectangular shape (excl. Already with the characteristics of setts, curbstones and flagstones).
680223: Granite and articles thereof, simply cut or sawn, with a flat or even surface (excl. With a completely or partly planed, sand-dressed, coarsely or finely ground or polished surface, tiles, cubes and similar articles of subheading 6802, 10, setts, curbstone.
680293: Granite, in any form, polished, decorated or otherwise worked (excl. Tiles, cubes and similar articles of subheading 6802.10, imitation jewelery, clocks, lamps and lighting fittings and parts thereof, original sculptures and statuary, setts, curbstones.
*Due to consistent data flow, statistics may alter during the year
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